The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways has launched a nationwide cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims in India. The scheme provides free medical treatment and health coverage, covering up to ₹1.5 lakh per incident. Eligible victims can access the program at any hospital accredited under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The Union Home Ministry has renamed the Chandigarh advisor's post to Chief Secretary in Union Territories like Chandigarh, aligning it with the Chief Secretaries of state and enhancing prestige. The Chief Secretary is the highest executive official in a state government, advising the Chief Minister on state administration and supervising policy implementation.
18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held on January 9th, 2025, honors the contributions of the Indian diaspora to India and marks Mahatma Gandhi's return to the country in 1915. The event organized by the Ministry of External Affairs has evolved into a biennial event. The theme is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).
AnemiaPhone, a technology developed to assess iron deficiency, a leading cause of anemia, has been transferred to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The device uses a finger stick to collect blood and analyze results, uploading results to a clinical database. It could transform anaemia detection in underserved areas by decentralizing healthcare.
Scientists have developed a new time-stratified ancestry analysis called Twigstats, which analyzes ancient European whole genomes to understand human ancestry. Twigstats analyzes genetic mutations over time, providing insights into migration patterns, cultural transitions, and genetic makeup of ancient Europeans. It uses statistical languages like R and C++, improves statistical power, and reduces errors.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering microRNAs and their role in gene expression using the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans is a valuable model for studying human biology due to its conserved genetic pathways and mechanisms, including the discovery of GFP.
ISRO successfully germinated cowpea seeds in space using the PSLV-C60's POEM-4 platform, demonstrating plant growth potential in space. The platform, part of the ISRO SpaDeX Mission, has 24 payloads and is used for microgravity experiments. Space farming offers benefits like reduced mass and self-contained pods.
The CSIR-CIMFR conducted the first trial blast for the Dozer Push Mining Method in India, expected to revolutionize mining operations by streamlining processes and improving safety protocols. This unmanned, automated machinery offers improved efficiency, reduced delays, and cost-effectiveness, contributing to India's economy and supporting downstream industries.
Government released the First Advance Estimates for India's GDP growth for the current financial year ending in March 2024-25. The nominal GDP is expected to reach Rs 324 lakh crore, a 9.7% growth over FY24, while the real GDP is projected to be Rs 184.9 lakh crore, just 57% of the nominal GDP.